Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near RAF East Wretham: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941 at 2050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2959
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Feltwell at 1625LT on an operation to Le Havre. While returning to base in the evening, it crashed for unknown reasons three miles from RAF East Wretham. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Donald Austin Watson, pilot,
Sgt Philip Leslie Gurd, pilot,
Sgt Edwin Rowland Carter, observer,
Sgt Stanley Heelis Jackson, wireless operator,
Sgt John Mortimer McKenzie, wireless operator,
Sgt Ranulph Paul Manwaring, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Bodney

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1941 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9268
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bodney - Bodney
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Bodney when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O F. W. Wilson,
P/O E. Forbes.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near RAF Docking: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1941 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AM718
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
MSN:
414-2800
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on a test flight with six crew members on board. After practicing circuits and landings, it was seen flying at a height of about 50 feet with the undercarriage down when it stalled and crashed in an open field located two miles from RAF Docking. The airplane was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Anthony Francis Nielsen Ladefoged, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Albert Mackey, pilot,
AC1 Richard Chadwick,
AC1 Hilton Arthur Lobergan,
Sgt Franklin Lewis Morgan, wireless operator,
AC1 Harold Sutcliffe.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Great Yarmouth

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 2225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3164
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1638LT on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base in the late evening, one of the engine failed. The airplane ditched in the sea some 20 miles east of Great Yarmouth. All six crew members were rescued.
Crew:
P/O J. Zajac,
Sgt Garstka,
P/O Maczynski,
Sgt Strzyzewski,
F/O Klewicz,
Sgt Pokrzywa.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Wells-next-the-Sea

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1941 at 2306 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z1103
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Marham at 1715LT on an operation to Emden. It ditched at 2306LT off Wells-next-the-Sea. The pilot decided to put the bomber down in the sea, rather than land on the beach which, he supposed, might be mined. After being picked up by the combined efforts of the Wells life boat and an RAF ASR, Sgt Helfer was told that he had been correct in his assumptions. Earlier, it is believed the Wellington was hit by Flak.
Crew:
Sgt Helfer,
Sgt Taylor,
Sgt Ross,
Sgt Adamson,
Sgt Purcell,
Sgt England.
Probable cause:
Hot by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Walpole St Andrew: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1941 at 1155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R5792
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a training sortie from RAF Coningsby when it collided with a RAF Hurricane registered V6864 and crashed in Walpole St Andrew, west of King's Lynn. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Arthur Carriss Smith, pilot,
F/O Henry Thomas Hill, pilot,
Sgt John Newton, observer,
Sgt Fred Holt, wireless operator,
Sgt Ernest Charles Hutton,
Sgt Francis Edward Martin, wireless operator,
Sgt Jesse Few, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Norwich

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1941 at 2104 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7275
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norwich - Norwich
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Horsham St Faith at 2104LT on a local training exercise with a crew of three on board. Almost immediately after takeoff, the airplane stalled and crashed. The pilot was killed and both other occupants were seriously injured. The observer died the next day from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O Russell Scott-Worthington, pilot, †
P/O David Carl Taylor, observer, †
Sgt J. Koller, wireless operator.

Ground accident of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Swanton Morley

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z7484
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at RAF Swanton Morley, the airplane collided with a second RAF Blenheim registered Z7361. While Z7361 was repaired and returned to service, Z7484 was damaged beyond repair. His pilot Sgt K. M. Elkins was uninjured.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near Swaffham: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1941 at 1203 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3394
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed at Carol House Farm near Swaffham while completing fuel consumption tests and cross country flying practice. The airplane was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Leonard Herbert Pitt, pilot,
Sgt Gordon David Hankinson Dutton, pilot,
Sgt Brian Ernest Dew, observer,
Sgt Reginald Cooper Knott, wireless operator,
F/Lt Harold Sidney Mellows,
Sgt Robert Owen Newbury, wireless operator,
Sgt John Leslie Louvain Arthur, air gunner.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III at RAF East Wretham

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1941 at 2210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3352
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honington - Honington
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Honington at 1731LT on an operation to Hamburg. Hit by Flak in the port engine while north of the city. With only one engine, the pilot was able to fly back to England and diverted to RAF East Wretham where the airplane crashed in a wood while trying to land. All six crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt W. E. Pendleton,
Sgt J. Cartwright,
Sgt A. N. Jenkins,
Sgt H. G. Cawdron,
Sgt W. C. Sadler,
Sgt D. S. Nicholas.
Probable cause:
Hit by Flak and engine failure.